where do highly academic $ donut hole students go?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thing is, a lot of top students end up not getting into UVA or UMD. It’s certainly not a given.

But each state has many excellent schools for students to choose from. If you want a degree that's affordable, there are options. It just might not be your "top choice". VA has some of the best public college options in the country (outside of CA perhaps).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thing is, a lot of top students end up not getting into UVA or UMD. It’s certainly not a given.

But each state has many excellent schools for students to choose from. If you want a degree that's affordable, there are options. It just might not be your "top choice". VA has some of the best public college options in the country (outside of CA perhaps).

+1. Yes, VA, CA , NY SUNY stony brook, Buffalo, Binghamton, NJ Rutgers etc, and many more

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So-called "donut hole" families may be somewhat disadvantaged when it comes to financial aid, but in virtually all other meaningful aspects of life, you are likely at least better if not much better off than those qualifying for FA.

Yes, why can’t they grasp that. Truly.

Because in DCUM-land, everyone feels entitled to attend a T20 for $20K/year.

[Anonymous]

This is why I’d never bash St Andrews.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:in DC area--$300k-450k is a donut hole family. 2 or more kids. SFHs run you $750k-2 million. COL is very high here.

LOL no. SFHs, investments, retirement savings, and OOS college tuitions are luxuries. You have to prioritize and choose, just like all the families who make less or way less.

Agree. A family making between 300-450k is not a donut hole family. We make in that range and we’ve saved money for our kids to go to college. One is in college now and the other will be next year. We won’t have quite enough from our 529 accounts, but we are able to cash flow the rest because we make enough money to do so.

Sure it is. We are in that range now (but were not always). We saved a lot but not enough to pay $65-80K/year. And while we CAN cash flow remaining, that will basically suck up every penny we have--quite literally-- if DC goes private and out of state (and we are also looking in state but acc to most of you on here we cannot and should not consider the Roanokes, Lynchburgs, etc.). And we do not live lavishly. Old cars that were cheap to begin with. No second home. Still in our starter home. Fly to vacation on miles accrued or stay driving distances.

After taxes and other necessities and being sucked dry for every little thing . . . . we are 1 medical emergency away from financial catastrophe. Something we came very near to actually incurring. So, yeah, I know some of you think this is living large at that salary. And maybe elsewhere it is. And it may be better than a lot and afford us a lot of comfort. But it's not rich and most certainly donut hole b/c we will get not once cent in aid. Anywhere.

This makes no sense. Where is all your money going. Why did you not save? You are rich.

Exactly. Unless you have unusual circumstances which you haven’t shared, you make plenty of money to pay for college.

Not the PP but I think it depends a lot on when income hit that range. Our HHI is roughly 350K. But three years ago it was 200K.

And your lifestyle before that . We moved so often owning a house didn’t make sense. It cost us a lot of money in lost appreciation and equity. Our income was $80-$150 for most of their childhood but jumped to $350 the year the first went to college.